Closure device



F, L., HANLE CLOSURE DEVICE Hmm M, 1939.

Filed Dec. l1, 1937 INVENTR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 31, 1939 oLosURE DEvIcE Frank L. Baule, Arlington, N. J. Application December 11, 1937', serial No. 119,327

2 Claims. This invention relates to closure devices, and

.more particularly to a device adapted to be removably secured to a box, carton or similar container and hold the covering aps tightly in closed position or permit the covering aps to be opened to dispense the contents of the box or carton.

A great deal of merchandise, particularly foodstuffs, is sold in paper boxes or cartons with the covering aps sealed or secured in some manner so as to protect the contents of the box or carton during storage and shipment. When this container reaches the home the housewife breaks the seal or otherwisel releases the covering aps so that the contents of the box or carton may be removed easily. Particularly in the case of cereals and the like, onlya portion of the contents is removed and the package is placed on a shelf out of the way for future use. In such case the closing aps never tightly close the box or carton, so that thecontents thereof are exposed to the action of the air and also to dust and other 4 foreign matter.

It is the particular purpose `of my invention to provide a small, inexpensive and eicient closure device which can be easily and quickly secured to a box or carton and which will effectually hold the covering flaps tightly closed or permit them to be opened fromtime to time to dispense the contents of the box or carton.

My improved device embodies many novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing my improved device in operative position on the box or carton;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device removed with the leaves of the device located in alinement;

Fig. 3 is a View in longitudinal section on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in. sectional elevation showing my improved device in operative position on a box or carton with the device holding the covering flaps in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the device in what may be termed its open position allowing the covering aps to be opened to enable the contents of the carton to be dispensed.

My improved device comprises two leaves Ill and II and for convenience of description I shall hereinafter refer to the leaf III as the closure leaf and the leaf II as the securing leaf. 'I'hese leaves I0 and Il may of -course be of any shape desired, and they are hingedly connected, that is to say, the leaf II) is provided with spaced sleeves I2 and the leaf II with smaller spaced leaves I3 between land in alinement with the sleeves I2 to receive a hinge pintle I4 therein to 5 allow for hinged movement of one leaf relative to the other.

Securing leaf I I is provided on its inner face with a spring tongue I5 which may be secured at its upper end to the leaf II by means of a rivet 10 I6 or any other suitable means, and this tongue I5 preferably extends beyond the end of the leaf II. A knob or button I 1 is formed on the inner face of the leaf II which cooperates with the tongue I5 to forma secure clamp.

In operation when the box or carton i's opened, or before'it is opened, a slot or slit I 8 is formed in the body I9 of the carton at apoint slightly removed from the end of the carton, and the tongue I5 is projected through the slot or slit 20 I8 and down inside of the box or carton so that with the cooperation of the knob or button I'I the spring tongue will exert, a relatively strong bite on a wall of the box or carton, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, to maintain the 25 device in proper operative position.

The box or carton indicated by the reference character I9 is of the ordinary or standard type having closure flaps 20 at its sides and ends which are adapted either to be moved to closed or open 3o position, and it is of course to be understood that the closure leaf I0 is adapted to be swung down to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing to hold the closure flaps 20 in their closed position or be swung to the position shown in 35 Fig. 5 to permit said flaps to be opened.`

`The closure leaf I0 is provided on its outer face with a flat spring 2| secured at one end by means of a rivet 22 or other suitable securing means. The leaf II is provided with an arched finger or 40 tongue 23 which preferably constitutes an integral part of the leaf between the bearing sleeves I3 and which is arched outwardly over the pin. tle I4. L V

'I'he spring 2I above referred to engages the 45 outer surface of this tongue 23 and rides over the same so that the finger operates as a cam or riser to cause the desired tension on. the spring 2| to hold the flap Ill in any position to which it is moved. Furthermore, the tongue 23 is engaged by the leaf` I0 when it is in fully opened position,`as shown in Fig. 5, so that the finger acts as a stop to prevent a further movement of the leaf III. p

It is perfectly .obvious that whenthe device is 55 tol in operative position on the box or carton, the latter may be opened and closed at will, and when the box or carton is empty and is to be discarded, the device may be easily removed and placed upon another box or carton.`

For convenience of manipulation, the extreme end of the closure leaf I0 is preferably curved or flared upwardly or outwardly as shown at 24.

While I have illustrated and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts without departing from the invention, hence I do not limit myself to the specific details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall with'f in the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure device of the character described, comprising a supporting leaf and a closure leaf hingedly connected, a spring tongue on the supporting leaf adapted to enter a slot in a container and secure the leaf against the container, a spring on the closure leaf engaging the supporting leaf and adapted to hold the closure leaf in position ether to close or permit the opening of the container, and a tongue on the supporting leaf engaged by the spring on the closure leaf to insure tension on the spring, said tongue adapted to be engaged by the closure leaf and constitute a stop to limit the opening movement of the same.

2. The combination with a container having a slotted wall, of a closure device comprising a supporting leaf and a closure leaf hingedly connected thereto, a compression tongue on the supporting leaf below said hinged connection, said compression leaf being adapted to enter the slot in said container and secure the leaf against the wall thereof, and a spring on the closure leaf engaging the supporting leaf and adapted to hold the closure leaf in position either to close or permit the opening of the container.

FRANK L. HANLE. 

